Page 15

Brian Porter

l month later in Paris, France

It was the day of Brian’s trial.

He woke up and to his surprise he was alone in his jail cell.

He jumped from his bunk in shock.

He spotted a guard.

“Yo, guard! Where’s my cellmate, Bourbon?”

“Oh, he was shipped off early this morning. He’ll serve the rest of his prison sentence at La Sante federal prison. This jail is mostly for inmates awaiting trial or sentencing. The warden was told to transfer many prisoners. I heard you’ll be leaving soon after your trial is done.”

Brian dropped his head in disappointment.

Every day it was a new surprise.

He didn’t even have the chance to say goodbye to Bourbon.

At first it was rough in jail and in the beginning, Bourbon had his back.

Once he found the brotherhood at the chapel, Bourbon separated himself from Brian.

When he tried to spark conversation with Bourbon, he would become sarcastic and tell him to go read his Bible.

It was challenging receiving unnecessary ridicule from him, but he saw it as God was trying to develop him.

Brian prayed that God would get him out of prison and remove opposition.

Now he was hoping his lawyer could convince the judge to release him from jail.

The lawyer had more than enough money to bond him out, but Brian would be considered a flight risk since he wasn’t from Paris.

His trial day had come, and he would find out if his money would be able to buy him his freedom.

While he waited patiently the guards called him.

“Brian, you’re lawyer is here to see you.”

“Well, if it isn’t the infamous Craig Davis. I’m so glad that you have finally graced me with your presence. You would think after all the money you’re paid you could’ve at least been available for my arraignment.”

“I’m sorry Brian. I heard Hazel’s voicemail, but I was busy with another important trial. It’s better late than never coming at all. Here is your suit for the trial. I recommend you plead guilty to the kidnapping and no contest to the murder for hire. In my opinion, there isn’t enough evidence to convict you of murder for hire.”

Brian looked at Craig in disgust, then he looked at the mediocre black suit that he’d given him.

He was disappointed at the lack of preparation that was given for his trial.

It took the Holy Spirit to keep him from cursing the lawyer out.

If he cursed him out, he probably would quit on him.

Then he would have to reschedule his trial until he got an attorney.

He sucked his teeth then replied, “Aight Mr. Davis. I’ll take your advice. I pray you don’t lose my case. It’ll hurt your reputation as a lawyer. You better hope you’re giving me the right advice.”

Brian began to put on his suit and shook his head the entire time.

The mediocre suit made him question whether Craig had lost his edge or simple didn’t care anymore.

It was too late now.

The time had come for the judge to decide.

“Brian, did you hire the hitman?” Craig asked.

“Unfortunately, I did. I regret it, but thankfully the hit man missed. I heard Adonis survived and escaped the bullet. After I ordered the hit on him, I tried to cancel it. It was too late because the killer was paid from the wire transfer to Bourbon. I prayed to God to make it the killer’s first unsuccessful hit. God answered my prayer, and Adonis was protected by the blood of Jesus. It’s the only way I can explain him missing the shot. Bourbon was confident when he proudly admitted that Joey had never missed a shot in his whole career as a hitman. His confidence in Joey’s performance as a hitman was the reason he decided to use him as the hitman.”.

“I’ll do my best to fight your case. You have my word, Brian.” Craig responded, patting his back, then helping Brian with his tie.

The plain black suit felt foreign to him.

He was used to flashy clothes, loud colors, and making an entrance, not blending into the background.

He wasn’t happy about the suit that his lawyer brought him.

He was used to expensive, high-end clothing.

Craig brushed the wrinkles out of his suit with his hand once he was done tying the tie.

“Now, you look like a law-abiding citizen. I need you to only speak when the court directly asks you to or when you’re testifying. Do not blurt out anything during court. Stay in your seat and remain calm.” He instructed as they walked out of the confined room.

The guards placed Brian in shackles and escorted them to the court room.

Brian was shocked to see a court room filled with people.

There was not an empty seat inside the court room.

The Minister of Justice gave a couple accredited journalists permission to film the trial for informational purposes.

The accredited journalist had NBA press cards, and the Minister of Justice made the rule that the recording is only available to the public after the case has been decided.

The Cameramen were there, ready to film with their video cameras in their hand.

As he went to his seat, he locked eyes on Kybella.

Craig told him that Kybella requested to testify the start of the trial.

Brian stared into her eyes and smiled.

She looked away quickly and held Adonis’s hand tightly.

Looking at her beauty up close and personal took his breath away.

He sighed from the idea of losing her.

He got himself together while straightening his suit, immediately taking his seat at the table with his lawyer.

“Tous se lèvent!”“La cour!” The huissier d’audience instructed.

Everyone in the court stood up as the judge came in to take her seat.

The Madame le president was introduced by the court at the start of the proceeding.

“I will hear both sides of the case and sentence for this serious crime. In the case of la République francaise vs Brian Porter accused of kidnapping charges, how do you plead?” ” Madame le president asked.

“He pleads not guilty your honor.” Craig replied.

Brian looked at him with a confused expression.

He wanted to ask him what he was doing but he was advised not to speak out.

He allowed him to lead as his attorney, but it didn’t look good.

The murmurs in the courtroom were loud after Craig gave his plea.

“Order in the court!” She announced while banging her gavel.

“On the charge for solicitation for murder how do you plead?”

“He pleads not guilty your honor.”

After the judge took her seat at the bench, the quiet shuffle of movement followed, everyone in the courtroom sat in their chairs.

The tension in the court began to settle down.

“I hope you understand the seriousness of your charges, Mr. Porter. Do you have anything you’d like to say to the court?”

Before answering the judge, Brian bowed his head in prayer.

“I don’t have anything to say right now, Madame le Président.” He responded.

God didn’t give him a word to say.

His translation was it meant to remain quiet and prayerful.

“In that case, let’s get started. I want to call Kybella Vonshire to the stand.” The procureur general instructed, and Bella immediately stood up.

She strutted to the stand with her head held high.

As she approached the stand the sketch artists began to document the proceedings.

“Please take a formal oath before testifying. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?”

“Yes, sir. I do.” Kybella replied and took her seat on the stand.

The procureurs stood up to question Kybella.

“Madame Vonshire, on the day in question were you held against your will?”

“Yes, sir, I was held against my will.”

“Is the person that kidnapped you in the court room?” The prosecutor asked.

“Yes, he’s sitting right there.” She pointed at Brian.

“For the record, you pointed at the defendant Brian Porter. I have no further questions, Madame le President.”

Next, Craig got up to question Bella.

“Do you have any relationship to Mr. Porter?”

“Yes, sir. He was my boyfriend at the time.

“Why did he kidnap you?

”

“I previously escaped from him after beating me severely on the arrival to our room at the hotel. He found me after several days. He was angry, I didn’t want to be with him anymore. Instead of letting me leave peacefully, he abused me.

“Were there any witnesses to the abuse?

”

“I’m sure the hotel has camera footage of the beating and of my kidnapping.”

“Mr. President, may I request a private consultation before this line of questioning continues?”

“Yes you may speak with me briefly.”

“We have just now received the hotel video. I am requesting that you review the video and advise me if the video can be played in the court room”

“I will review the video and advise the courts.” The judge announced.

The bailiff brought in the television toward the center of the court room.

Then the procureurs spoke, “On the video Brian was seen dragging her. She fell to the ground, and he kicked her several times until he was out of breath. He then picked her up and took her into a room. The audience gasped from the sight on the television screen. “Ordre dans la salle!

” the judge shouted, banging her gavel sharply against the bench as the murmurs rose.

“Order in the court!”

“Okay, I’ve seen enough. Please turn the video off.” The judge announced.

Brian shook his head in disappointment and disgust.

He hated to see what he did to the woman he loved.

He knew what he did wasn’t right.

If only he could go back in time and do everything differently.

Now he had to face the consequences of his actions.

“I have already submitted the evidence we have against Mr. Porter in discovery. I want to draw your attention to Exhibit 1, which are the phone records from Mr. Porter to Hazel Ryan. Exhibit 2 are the recorded calls between Brian and Hazel Ryan. Exhibit 3 are the canteen records of the money from Hazel Ryan that was used to pay the hitman. Exhibit 4 is the jail visitation recording with Hazel Ryan the day after the money transfer. The video clearly shows the Federal police arresting Hazel Ryan as an accessory to conspiracy. Finally, Exhibit 5 are the prison visitation records to confirm the hitman visiting the jail the day before the shooting.” The prosector said while referencing all the exhibits for the judge to view.

“Very well, all five exhibits is admitted into the record.” The Judge responded.

Thanks, procureur .

You may step down Ms.

Vonshire.

“I now call Brian Porter to the stand.” The prosecuting attorney announced.

Brian slowly walked to the stand.

He recited his oath as the bailiff instructed.

His eyes were low, and he had a look of defeat on his face.

“Now Mr. Porter. Why did you need twenty thousand Euro sent to your canteen? Remember the pledge you took when you give your answer.” The prosecutor spoke while looking at him sternly.

“Your honor, I made a mistake. I wanted revenge for my woman leaving me for that man.”

“Why did you want to kill Adonis too?” The prosector asked.

“He didn’t deserve her. I put years into giving Kybella my all. I made her. She wouldn’t be anything without me. My homies came back to me and told me they saw my girl with Game. I wanted him out the way. I wanted her back with me after my release from jail. If he was killed, then she couldn’t be with him anymore. I spoke with my cellmate, and he put me in connection with a hitman. The twenty thousand Euros was transferred to my cellmate Bourbon’s canteen to pay for the hit on Adonis. Finally, I confess that I ordered the hit on Game. I’m not proud of it. I thank God it wasn’t successful. I wouldn’t have been able to handle his death on my conscience.” Everyone in the court began to speak loudly and gasp.

“Order dans la salle! Order in the court!” The judge banged her gavel repeatedly until the courtroom was quiet.

“Your honor, may I speak freely?” Brian asked with innocence.

“You have my permission to speak freely.”

“I just want to say, I want to offer my apologies for what I’ve done. I don’t have the words to fix what I’ve caused in Paris but I’m truly sorry. I take full responsibility. I’ve started the healing process and I’m willing to help heal others in Paris and tell others about my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

“Usually in Paris, when a defendant is found guilty, the sentencing phase takes place after the trial during a separate hearing. However, in your case, we have decided to proceed differently and address sentencing immediately.” The court will take a short recess.

*Fifteen minutes later*

“I have reviewed all the evidence. The court finds you guilty of both charges. We received the testimony of the accessory to the crime Hazel Ryan. She admitted partial involvement, claimed she only acted under pressure and didn’t understand the extent of the crime. Hazel gave her statement implicating the primary defendant and downplaying her responsibility. Then we had the testimony from the hotel front desk clerk. He confirmed seeing the defendant become verbally abusive and physically abusive to the victim. The front desk clerk identified the defendant with the victim upon checking in together. The victim’s medical doctor testified. He presented the victim’s medical report to me and detailed the victims injuries consistent with assault. Finally, Bourbon and Joey confirmed they knew each other. Joey confessed that Bourbon paid him the first deposit for the hit on Adonis. Bourbon confessed he didn’t pay the final amount to Joey since he didn’t finish the job.” Y.

I order you to serve five years in prison for kidnapping.

Regarding the charge related to the conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder.

I order you to serve ten years in prison.

A total of fifteen years prison time with the possibility of parole.

I believe you are remorseful.

At the same time, the victim will carry the scars of your actions for the rest of her life.

Your plot could have taken an innocent man’s life.

During your time away, I hope you heal your heart and soul.

Baillif take him out of my courtroom.

” Brian took one final look at Bella and blew her a kiss before getting handcuffed.

Relieved, tears welled in Bella’s eyes, but the courtroom remained silent and tense.

Though no applause broke out, the weight of justice hung heavy.

Brian saw Kybella give Adonis a loving embrace.

It felt like a punch to Brian’s gut to witness her embracing Game.

Then he hung his head low while witnessing Game walk out with Bella.

From where Brian sat, half shadowed behind the guards, he could see the reporters swarm the hallway.

Their cameras and microphones pointed straight at Bella and Game.

They were seen asking her about the trial, but no one asked Brian anything.

Brian felt like he wasn’t a person anymore but only a headline, a name behind the glass.

Maybe that’s all he deserved.

Brian heard Bella’s voice carry down the corridor, steady and clear, telling them she wanted to become a domestic violence advocate.

That hit harder than the verdict.

She was turning the worst thing he’d ever done into something meaningful, and he was just the reason she had to.

Then, with barely a pause, she added, ‘If you’re suffering, call 911 and get out.

’ No anger in her voice, just purpose.

And then they turned and walked off together, still holding hands.

That image stayed with him longer than the sentence they gave him.